Mohave County miner., 1887-08-06
EARLY DAYS ON fine PLAINS.
A Eordcr Tale Toi. Ea the Sm0k.
ing-rOom Of" Sicepiug-cmr.
Temple Bar.

In the smoking section Of a sleeping
ar on the st. Paul Road after supper the
other day the conversation turned on
tricks at cards, and one of the party as
serted that Canada Bill" was the origi
,ator OF that peculiar industry. A Ian
-j..wed man from Wyoming, who had
''ecn an attentive listener, remarked:
"Gcnt!cman, you arc wron-. saw q
sucker play it, to my sorrow, before
Canada Bill ever thought of it,"
In response 10 ur1ent requests the resi-
lent OF the sagebrush distric. in the West
vent on with his story: "The last year
u the war /, being boy OF eighteen, cu,
'oose and driited towards the then newly.
discovered gold mines OF Montana. Or
the way became separated from the ont.
it was travelling with and driited along
rom one frontier ranch or trading station
70 another until finally made halt a,
the crossing OF the Big Laramie river on
the old stage road at ranch kept by Al.
smith. Smiths ranch consisted OF 10:
1nilding 2ox40, al! in one room, in which
ne ran genera! store and saloon. As
there was no water for fifteen miles either
way, his ranch vas n camping-ground foi
III trains bound either east or west. The
Indians were bad in those days, and every
ranchnan kept as large force about him
rs possible, aud strag2lers like mysel!
were received with open hospitality and
urged to prolong th;ir stay, J. remained
at Smiths ranch for several months
welcome gnest, swapping horses, hunting
antelope, drinking whisky, playing poker
md trading in Government mules--which
in those days was considered all over the
West as legitimate as selling whisky or
any other respectable and honorable i'm
lustry. l made plenty OF money, and
had occasional Indian skirmishes, and
lots Of excitement. There were several
of US young fellows there and every even.
ing We would indulge in poker by our
selves II we could not get stranger in.
but when we could, we took him in, and
We got one almost every night, and, az
money was abundant, we were all well
fixed. One evening. late in the Fall OF
1865, n cadayerous, lank, homely speci-
men Of humanity rode up to the ranch on
a poor, scrawny mare pony, followed BY
a half-starved colt. He was dressed in
ragged remnants OF threadtnrc broad.
cloth suit, number OF rents in his trousers
showing tattered pair OF gray ones be.
meath. An old pair Of congress- gaiters
adorned his extra-large feet, and an anti
luated stiff hat scarcely protected him
rom the sun. His hair was long, his
face Unshaven. From his shoulder hung
bv piece OF rope an old -four sack stuffed
iull of old clothes, while under his right
arm he carried a bundle wrapped in an
old striped hickory shirt. Iie awkardly
:rawled off his Rosinante, and In drawl
ing, suffering voice inquired If he could
git 10 STAY all night He was informed
that he could spread his blanket on the
door and could eat with us such as we
nad bnt that the nearest hotel was about
800 miles down the road. His suffering
speech and gawky manner caused us
unlimited amusement, and we
,uyed him most numerically, all OF
shich he took in good part.
"Betore night u number OF trains came
dong and went into camp, and by dark
;he log cabin was lively. Freighicrs and |
were buying gools and drink.
ng whisky, and playing cards for canned
ruit-the one great luxury oi the Western
oilgrjms. At an early hohr, long before
anyone else had thought OF sleep, Rusty
rs we called him, spread his blankets on
,hc floor, and, with his Old artillery sad
lie for pillow, turned in and tried TO
sleep. Four OF us youngsters drew around
l table and proposed to start a poker
game il We could get 30 ne one to cone
n and make it fIvehandad. Rusty
Jumped up and said as 1t was impossible
o sleep he would play little while for
un. We kindly informed him that we
lid not play for fun, but for quarter
lnte, just TO make /. interesting. He de-
nurred at first, bit finally agreed TO play
IS worth. We did not want him to play
,n account Of his poverty, but when he
produced fat leather poeketbook stuffed
with grcenbacks our scrupIes diminished,
md the game began. l never saw as
awkward a man with cards in my life,
but am free to confess that never saw